Team's Today

This past unit of study in Element of Team Leadership focused on overcoming obstacles in today's work setting such as dealing with diversity, different cultures, virtual teams and how to evaluate, reward, and build teams according to those issues.
Of the topics, the section on virtual teams was emphasized during our class's Maroon/Orange Game. Following the definition of virtual teams, which is outlined in our Levi textbook as, "any team whose member interactions are mediated by time, distance, and technology," our team was assigned to compete in a game of trading cards. We were paired up with another unknown team in the class, and went through four rounds of trading either a maroon or orange card in an attempt to gain points. The only catch was that we were only allowed to communicate through the online resource, Scholar.
When I went home this weekend and was explaining this to my father, he was very confused. He couldn't understand why we were only allowed talk through the computer when we could call each other, or just talk in person while I was at school. My father has always stressed the importance of face to face communication to my siblings and I, partly because he says it leaves a better impression on people, and partly because he doesn't really understand technology (he didn't start keeping his business records and transactions on the computer until just a few years ago when he hired a bookkeeper). In fact, he has refused to let us get text messaging on our phones because, and this is an actual quote, "texting is the downfall of youth's ability to communicate."

However, this virtual communication comes in very handy. Not only have I used Skype to keep in touch with friends at different school and around the country, but I was getting my wisdom teeth removed during the Maroon and Orange Game, and I was the team leader. So even though I was at home during the game, I could still communicate efficiently enough to make decisions for the team.
As technology advances, there will be more and more opportunities to interact virtually, even if my dad doesn't necessarily agree with it. However, the lessons that I have learned from this chapter will better prepare me to understand how virtual teams interact, how to avoid the downfalls, and to appreciate the available technology.

The Issues Teams Face

This past unit of study in Elements of Team Leadership was one that focused on the issues that teams face. Managing conflict, power and social influences, leadership positions, problem solving, and creativity are all areas that could lead to potential issues in the work setting.
Of this section, the most interesting part of the reading that I was intrigued with was the problem solving topic. When you are working toward a common goal with a group of people, the process of accomplishing that goal can be interpreted as many different ways as there are members. Everyone has their own ideas and ways of trying to meet the expectations that the team sets for itself.
One team that I was on that exemplified the meaning of accomplishing it's  goal was the state winning livestock judging I was on in high school.

(A few of the girls that I judged with at another competition in Louisville for Skillathon.)

Our all girl judging team competed together for years in 4-H and FFA competitions up and down the East Coast and across the country. Over the years, the one piece of advice that our coach told us over and over again was "consistency, consistency, consistency." Whether we were looking at pigs, sheep, cattle, or the occasional goat, we tried to maintain the same goal - see the same thing your teammate sees, that way if one person does well, you all do well.
By keeping a constant eye on our goal, we went on to win the State FFA contest and placed in the top ten at National Convention in 2008.
I don't doubt that my team in this leadership class will excel with the goals we have set for ourselves! Hopefully we will make an impact with the elementary students as we discuss the importance of leadership, teamwork and brainstorming in the coming weeks.